Introduction
Is your internet hygiene on point?
It can be challenging to stay ahead when it comes to online cleanliness. It’s easy to simply close your laptop and forget about the masses of unfiled documents, but if you don’t look after your inbox now, you’ll regret it later.
Why does this matter so much? Well, when it comes to tax season or a big deadline, you’ll want to grab those necessary files as quickly as possible. Forget digging through old folders; ensure your digital space is organized now, and thank yourself later.
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How Can You Get Organized?
Getting organized and tidying up isn’t anyone’s favourite hobby. However, this dreary task has to be done in modern life! Did you know that 85% of emails are spam? This is a lot of your mailbox, so it’s time to get moving.
After all, you wouldn’t leave papers all over your office and ignore them when you started tripping over them. So, why leave your desktop in this manner? If you are experiencing a paper build-up, consider an under desk drawer to help you file in style.
Two key areas to clean out are your email inbox and your general computer desktop. Work-life is busy, so we don’t always take the time to file emails and documents in these areas. When clearing out, these spaces are often the most important to examine.
If you’re feeling inspired to get organized, keep reading. We’ve got all the tips you need to make life easier for you in the future. Enjoy!
Get Rid Of Junk
The first step you should take towards a cleaner inbox is removing junk mail. Set a 10-minute timer and just start deleting as much spam as possible. There’s nothing more satisfying than mass deleting, so put your favourite tunes on and enjoy the process.
If you’re focusing on your desktop, take the same attitude and start removing old docs from your homepage. It’s surprising how many meaningless documents we end up with, and these can be a considerable drain on storage and charge. You’ll feel lighter when they’re gone!
Turn Off Social Media Notifications
While many of the emails online today are junk, another large chunk of them are notifications from social media websites. Not only do these pesky websites clog up your phone’s notifications, but they fill your inbox to the brim too.
Go through the social media accounts you use and disable email alerts. You’ll notice your inbox becomes a more serene place in days.
Create Folders
Secondly, start creating folders. Add labels, folders, or a method of organization to your digital space. This might seem like a monumental task right now, but you really will benefit from it in the future. Again, carve out some time from daily life and dedicate an hour to sorting your online space.
Popular folder types include Invoices, Receipts, and Work folders for desktops. This can really help you when it comes to the end of the tax year. Focus on separating personal and professional emails into different mailboxes for your inbox. You should also unsubscribe from mailing lists to prevent future build-ups.
Make A To-Do List
If you’re feeling the squeeze, step away from the computer and map out a to-do list. This can be super helpful if you’re cleaning out for the first time in years. Pre-plan what folder you need, making the entire organizing process much faster and easier.
Add A Read Later Filter
Did you know you can add a “Read Later” filter to your inbox? This will save your inbox from filling up with junk newsletters, but you’ll still be able to dip into the ones you want to read later. Outlook and Gmail offer a range of helpful filters to keep your online life organized. Take advantage of your email provider’s tools!
Take Time Once A Week
Want to also prevent build-ups of spam and junk in the future? Take an hour once a week to remove any unwanted files. Our inboxes fill up over time and often without us even noticing. You can reduce this by taking 10 minutes a week to refresh your computer.
Alternatively, you can even add “Email Time” to your workday. Many employees spend five minutes at the start of the day and five minutes at the end of it tending to their inbox. This is excellent practice and will set you up for a fulfilling email experience. No mess, no stress!
The Bottom Line
Are you ready to enjoy a stress-free online life? Release your email inbox and desktop from the grips of unwanted junk today with these helpful tips. We hope you’ll build some inbox-preening time into your day soon. Good luck!
Interested in more work-life content? Read the Flexispot blog here for more.
